Chamelaucium plant named ‘GIL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chamelaucium cultivar named ‘GIL’ is disclosed, characterized by large, white flowers and flower buds colored near Red 45A. Flower production begins in winter in Israel. Petals are distinctively semi-erect in attitude. The new variety is a Chamelaucium, normally producing cut flower stems, or as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chamelaucium uncinatum.

Variety denomination: ‘GIL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Chamelaucium cultivar is the product of a planned breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, Nitzan Nir, in Kfar Hess, Israel. Theobjective of the breeding program was to produce new Chamelauciumvarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The new variety wasselected as a seedling from the breeding program at a commercial nurseryin Kfar Hess, Israel.

The crossing resulting in this new variety was made in February of 2017.The seed parent is the unpatented variety referred to as Chamelauciumuncinatum ‘Nir’. The pollen parent is the unpatented variety referred toas Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘Guy’. The new variety was discovered inFebruary 2020 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting frompreviously mentioned crossing, in a commercial nursery in Kfar Hess,Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar has been performed by terminalvegetative cuttings. This was first performed in May of 2020 at acommercial nursery in Kfar Hess, Israel in and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in atleast 4 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘GIL’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘GIL’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘GIL’ as a new and distinct Chamelauciumcultivar:

-   -   1. Winter blooming.    -   2. Large flower size.    -   3. White flower color.    -   4. Semi-erect attitude of petals.    -   5. Large bud size.    -   6. Flower buds flushed Red 45A.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GIL’ are similar to plants of the seedparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘GIL’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Bud shape of the new variety is flattish, while the bud shape        of the seed parent is round.    -   2. Bud size of the new variety is larger than the bud size of        the seed parent.    -   3. Flower size of the new variety is larger than the flower size        of the seed parent.    -   4. Flower color of the new variety is white, while the flower        color of the seed parent is pink.    -   5. Petals of the new variety have a semi-erect attitude, while        petals of the seed parent have a horizontal attitude.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GIL’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘GIL’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety begins blooming later than the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GIL’ are comparable to the varietyChamelaucium uncinatum ‘Adi’, unpatented. The two Chamelaucium varietiesare similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the newvariety ‘GIL’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flower color of the new variety is white, while the flower        color of this comparator is purple.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GIL’ are comparable to the varietyChamelaucium uncinatum ‘Early Maya’, unpatented. The two Chamelauciumvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘GIL’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety begins blooming later than this comparator.    -   2. Flower size of the new variety is larger than the flower size        of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates a plant of the new variety atapproximately 1 to 2 years of age. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘GIL’ plants grown outdoors in Kfar Hess,Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 35° C. during theday and from -2° C. to 35° C. during the night. General light conditionsare bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘GIL’.-   Age of plant described: About 2 months old from a rooted cutting.-   Typical flowering stems harvested per plant: 120 to 150 during the    course of the season.-   Vase life of flowers: Two weeks.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 30 to 60 days at approximately    24° C.-   Root description: Split root.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Height: 150 cm.-   Plant spread: 100 cm.-   Branching characteristics:-   Length of primary lateral branches: 60 cm to 100 cm on average.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.1 cm to 0.15 cm. (branches from the    top 30 cm. of the primary lateral branch).-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: 120 to 150.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Diameter.—0.3 to 0.35 cm, measured at 40 cm from top.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 197B.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Strength.—Low flexibility.-   Internode length: Range from 2 cm to 12.5 cm, section of top 30 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 10 leaves, in the 5-10 cm section            from the top of the branch.        -   Average length.—1.3 cm.        -   Average width.—1 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Needle.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth all surfaces.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Aspect.—Straight.        -   Color.—Young foliage, upper side: RHS Green 137A. Young            foliage, under side: RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage, upper            side: RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage, under side: RHS Green            137A.        -   Venation.—Indistinguishable from foliage.        -   Petiole.—Not present.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Winter.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Photoperiodic conditions. No    juvenility.-   Inflorescence type: Panicle.-   Individual flower type: 5 petals, about 1.9 cm in diameter.-   Rate of flower opening: About 45 to 60 days from bud to fully opened    flower.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Lastingness: About 2 weeks in a vase.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Flattish.        -   Length.—0.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 to 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Near White 155C with heavy apical flush near RHS Red            45A.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Diameter.—10 to 20 cm on average.        -   Length.—15 to 30 cm on average.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—1.9 cm.        -   Length.—1.2 cm.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petals.—Arrangement: Rotate hypanthium. Length: 0.9 cm.            Diameter: 1 cm. Quantity: 5. Texture: Smooth. Apex: Round.            Base: Fused.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS White 155A. Lower            surface: RHS White 155A. Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS            White 155C. Lower surface: RHS White 155C. Aging: Upper            surface: RHS White 155C. Lower surface: RHS White 155C.-   Interior corolla/tube:    -   -   Diameter.—1 cm.        -   Length.—0.2 cm.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144A.            Lower surface: RHS Yellow-Green 144A. Fully opened: Upper            surface: RHS Green-Yellow 152B. Lower surface: RHS            Green-Yellow 153C. Aging: Upper surface: RHS Grey-Brown            166A. Lower surface: RHS Grey-Brown 166A.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5 sepals.        -   Shape.—Bow.        -   Length.—0.15 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm.        -   Margin.—Smooth.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS White 155A.-   Peduncle: Peduncle consists of the plant stem.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—0.5 to 1.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 146C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—10.        -   Filament length.—2 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near White 155A.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Width.—0.3 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Orange 22A.-   Pollen: Not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—0.8 cm.        -   Style length.—0.7 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS White 157B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Color: RHS Yellow 4D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Single flower produces one fruit. When the fruit    is fertile, it will produce 1 seed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Chamelaucium have been observed to    date.-   Temperature tolerance: From −2° C. to 35° C.-   Drought tolerance: Very good tolerance for drought.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chamelaucium plantnamed ‘GIL’ as herein illustrated and described.